HANGZHOU, Dec. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Sony (China) Limited
has decided to suspend the distribution in China of six of its digital
camerasthat failed quality tests but it hasn't said how it will compensate
consumers who bought the inferior machines.

The cameras failed quality tests
conducted by China's National Camera Quality Supervision and Inspection Center,
according to a report released on Monday by Zhejiang Administration of Industry
and Commerce.

Sony China released a statement Thursday explaining
that the standard files submitted to the Center by its two subsidiaries in
Shanghai and Wuxi are "not in conformity with the actual performance of Sony
products" and officials from the factories have already apologized for their
mistake.

The cameras involved are models DSC-H1, DSC-L1,
DSC-P200,DSC-W7,DSC-W5 and DSC-S90.

An official with the National Camera Quality
Supervision and Inspection Center said that four types of digital cameras
producedby the corporate's subsidiary company in Wuxi, eastern Jiangsu Province,
are actually using the same standard, which lacks detailed description of
product functions.

According to Sony, the sale of the cameras which have
quality problems will be suspended until further inspections.

However, the director of the Center has told Xinhua
that there will be no further inspections.

Some Chinese customers have been trying to return the
cameras or exchange them for a better quality one. Sony has promised it will
safeguard consumers' legitimate rights in line with Chinese laws but it has not
specified what they'll do about the problem. Enditem